Watch Voices of Civil Rights

2009
1 Season

Voices of Civil Rights is a documentary series that explores the experiences of the people who were at the forefront of the civil rights movement in America. The series uses historical footage, interviews, and archival recordings to tell the stories of activists, politicians, and ordinary people who fought for equality and justice during one of the most transformative periods in American history.

The series covers a wide range of topics related to the civil rights movement, from the Brown v. Board of Education decision to the Voting Rights Act of 1965. It includes interviews with major figures in the movement, such as John Lewis, Julian Bond, and Andrew Young, as well as lesser-known activists who played important roles in the struggle for civil rights.

One of the strengths of the series is the range of perspectives it presents. Viewers will hear from both black and white people who were involved in the movement, as well as those who opposed it. This provides a nuanced view of the struggle for civil rights that goes beyond the typical black-and-white narrative of the era.

The series also delves into the many challenges faced by civil rights activists, including violence, intimidation, and the constant threat of arrest. It explores how grassroots organizing and civil disobedience played a key role in achieving change, as well as the ways in which political and legal strategies were used to bring about reform.

Throughout the series, viewers will encounter many powerful moments that illustrate the courage and determination of the people who fought for civil rights. For example, there are interviews with the Little Rock Nine, the group of black students who integrated Central High School in Arkansas in 1957, as well as footage of the Freedom Rides and the marches from Selma to Montgomery.

At the same time, the series does not shy away from the darker aspects of the civil rights movement. It explores the tensions and divisions within the movement itself, as well as the complex relationship between civil rights and economic justice. It also examines the impact of the movement on American society as a whole, including the role it played in the rise of the conservative right.

Overall, Voices of Civil Rights is a powerful and insightful documentary series that sheds light on one of the most important periods in American history. It is a must-watch for anyone interested in the struggle for civil rights, as well as for those who want to understand how that struggle continues to shape our society today.

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Seasons

4. Crossing the Bridge

Selma, Alabama, March 7, 1965. A line of civil rights protesters crossed the Edmund Pettis Bridge on a march to the capital in Montgomery. Alabama State Troopers blocked their path, and the unprovoked brutality that followed shocked a nation and moved President Johnson to press for passage of a voting rights bill. We trace events leading up to "Bloody Sunday", draw on personal experiences, and provide an unique backdrop to one of America's most turbulent times.

3. Mississippi State Secrets

There was a mystery going on in Mississippi for almost 20 years beginning in 1956. Though the state was charged with prosecuting crimes, it set up something called the Mississippi Sovereignty Commission. Its job was to spy on people connected to the civil rights movement. We'll see why one observer called the commission, funded by the state through 1972, a combination of Keystone Cops and 1984. When commission records were finally opened in 1989, it had amassed a list of over 80,000 names.

2. Voices of Civil Rights

February 12, 2005

Join us for a fascinating look at one of the defining social movements in America's history--the Civil Rights Movement--told through the small, personal stories of men, women, and children who lived through this turbulent time. To collect these hundreds of personal narratives, a group of journalists, photographers, and videographers embarked on a 70-day bus trip around the country. The trove of material they collected makes up the country's largest archive of oral histories of the Civil Rights Movement and will be housed in the Library of Congress. What emerges as people tell us their stories is not a textbook history lesson, but a series of intimate themes that define and humanize the movement's growth and trajectory. We also provide a "big picture" of what was going on in the country during each period in the movement, from the landmark Brown v. Board of Education decision to the assassination of Martin Luther King.

1. Crucibles of Courage

Crucible of Courage will explore the stories of five famous Black Americans and the ways in which their lives and work impacted our world today. Individuals profiled will include people across a broad spectrum of history representing achievements in politics, business, medicine, the arts and sports. Potential profiles include George Washington Carver, Sojourner Truth, W.E.B. DuBois, Ida B. Wells, Dr. Charles Drew, Rosa Parks, Jackie Robinson, Thurgood Marshall, Mohammed Ali, Andrew Young, Maya Angelou and Colin Powell. Using interviews, location footage and archive material we will bring these stories to life as they celebrate the invaluable accomplishments of five people who helped shape our country. Senator Barack Obama will serve as our host introducing each person selected for the program.

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